Being Equally Well
There is a strong, bi-directional relationship between mental and physical health. Comorbidity or concurrent physical and mental ill health is a significant problem. Outcomes for people with severe mental illness are particularly poor, dying up to 23 years earlier than other Australians, primarily due to preventable poor physical health.
To address this, the national policy roadmap, Being Equally Well, was put together to provide recommendations for improved healthcare services.
Key publications
Being Equally Well was launched in 2021 by the Federal Health Minister. Throughout the following year, Victoria University held implementation roundtables and advisory groups, the results of which culminated in the Being Equally Well Implementation Action Plan. Alongside this, a Medical Journal of Australia special supplement on Being Equally Well was published to support the recommendations.
Read the Medical Journal of Australia special supplement, ‘Being Equally Well: Ending the neglect of physical health for people with serious mental illness’ (2022).
Read the Federal Health Minister media release 'Australian Government welcomes Being Equally Well Policy Roadmap' (26 August 2021).
